insert various Charades gestures here
December 14, 2012 12:30 PM Subscribe
PlaguingMeForYearsBecause IUsedToKnowItButForgotFilter: What's the word (I think it's Greek in origin) for the atavistic phenomenon like the motor of a car being in the front of the vehicle simply because the horse was in the front of the cart...?
Response by poster: Pretty damned possibly, 'though it didn't immediately ring the "AH-HA!" bell. Nonetheless, you certainly get the Two Minute Response prize! Keep 'em comin', HiveMind.
posted by TigerMoth at 12:35 PM on December 14, 2012
posted by TigerMoth at 12:35 PM on December 14, 2012
Path dependence?
posted by Fichereader at 12:41 PM on December 14, 2012
posted by Fichereader at 12:41 PM on December 14, 2012
Vestigial?
posted by yellowbinder at 12:48 PM on December 14, 2012
posted by yellowbinder at 12:48 PM on December 14, 2012
Mimesis? It's the root word for mime and mimic.
posted by Boxenmacher at 1:03 PM on December 14, 2012
posted by Boxenmacher at 1:03 PM on December 14, 2012
I would say "historical artifact". A single word would be nice.
A skeuomorph is a non-functional element copied from the older version, right? Like decorative drainpipes on that fire station that Prince Charles designed.
posted by phliar at 2:21 PM on December 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
A skeuomorph is a non-functional element copied from the older version, right? Like decorative drainpipes on that fire station that Prince Charles designed.
posted by phliar at 2:21 PM on December 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
Reminds me of discovering why the space shuttle is the size that it is. Goes all the way back to the width between cart wheels.
posted by wwartorff at 3:27 PM on December 14, 2012
posted by wwartorff at 3:27 PM on December 14, 2012
A skeuomorph is a non-functional element copied from the older version, right?
In software, I see it used to mean specifically that thing where an interface element mimics the physical structure &/or interface of a modeled thing. Music players that looked like stereo panels and such. Dialers with little telephone keypads to click on. Bookshelves. Sticky note applications.
posted by brennen at 11:11 PM on December 14, 2012
In software, I see it used to mean specifically that thing where an interface element mimics the physical structure &/or interface of a modeled thing. Music players that looked like stereo panels and such. Dialers with little telephone keypads to click on. Bookshelves. Sticky note applications.
posted by brennen at 11:11 PM on December 14, 2012
Anachronistic - it literally means 'out of its time'.
posted by Happy Dave at 9:21 AM on December 16, 2012
posted by Happy Dave at 9:21 AM on December 16, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Oktober at 12:32 PM on December 14, 2012 [5 favorites]